>June 30, 1888. RUTLAND- A FAMILY REUNION.- For the last few months Mrs. J. >K. Spencer, had been planning to give her husband a birthday surprise party, >when he should arrive at his sixty-first milestone in the journey of life, >which would be on the 23rd day of June, 1888, by inviting their brothers and >sisters, with a few intimate friends, to celebrate the occasion. >Everything was managed so closely that the surprise was complete. Mr. S. did >not even think of its being his birthday until Mrs. S presented him with a >handsome suit of clothes as a reminder. She then started him off to town to >meet her sister and husband from Galesburg. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, who they >expected to arrive on that day to make an extended visit. During his absence >the guests arrived, and took possession of the house and grounds, and not >until Mr. S saw the company, did it dawn upon his mind that a surprise had >been in waiting for him. >There were present: K.K. Shaver and wife, Josiah Shaver, J.R. Shaver and >wife, Mrs. Rebecca Snelling, S. W. Allen and wife of Galesburg, J. F. Miller >and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Shaver, E.T. Spencer and wife, Edward Spencer and >wife, Mrs. Annin, F. Shaver and wife, N. Ward and wife, D. D. Vincent, and >others. >At 12:30 the guests were all invited into the elegant parlors and Mr. >Vincent, who was appointed spokesman, in a neat and well worded speech, >presented Mr. S with a beautiful easy chair, which the brothers and sisters >had provided for the occasion. Mr. Spencer was completely taken by surprise, >but was equal to the occasion, and responded in a beautiful appropriate >manner. >Mrs. Allen, whose birthday was the day following, was also presented with a >beautiful silver water pitcher, with appropriate remarks and thanks >returned. The doors of the spacious dining room were thrown open, and the >guests invited to partake of one of the most bounteous repasts in the >history of LaSalle county, to which the guests did ample justice. At a late >hour in the afternoon they departed for their homes, after having spent a >very pleasant day, and wishing their host many happy returns of the same. A >GUEST > >For further information or discussion please contact: sue@kaiconsulting.com